KISS ME, COWBOY

by Maureen Child

  "Thanks," Rick said, already heading for the barn. "I owe you."

  "No problem," Mike said, remembering all too well what it was like to deal with a pregnant wife. Of course, Vicky had pretty much resented the whole situation. She'd complained for nine long months. She'd hated the changes in her body. Hated the baby. Most especially, though, she'd hated Mike for creating the child in the first place.

  And as long and miserable as that pregnancy had been, none of it had mattered the minute the nurse handed his new daughter to him. Mike could still see Emily – tiny, red, screaming her head off. It was still a moment he thought of as miraculous. Hell, he'd had just about had sucker stamped on his forehead from the moment he took his first look at his little girl.

  He'd always wanted three or four kids. He smiled at the thought of the ranch ringing with the sound of squeals and laughter. But, an instant later, that smile disappeared as he reminded himself that Emily would be his one and only child. And that was a shame, he admitted, if only to himself. Mike hadn't counted on living the rest of his life alone. He'd wanted a wife. A big family.

  But he'd messed it all up so badly, so completely, that he figured he'd had his shot and blown it. Now it wasn't his turn to go out and try to find happiness. He wouldn't let Emily care about someone else, only to be abandoned again. His daughter had to be his priority. Now it was Emily's turn. And he'd do everything he could to make sure his little girl was happy.

  *

  Nora had a plan.

  She'd even called in the big guns. Making Jenny and Frannie go shopping with her, she'd picked out lingerie that was so sexy she was half surprised it hadn't burned a hole right through the bag she'd carried it home in. With her hair and nails done, she felt pampered and pretty and, let's face it … ready to do battle.

  She only wished her nerves were as rock steady as her eyeliner. Her stomach swirled with what felt like hundreds of butterflies, and her mouth was so dry it hurt to swallow.

  Inhaling sharply, deeply, she muttered encouragement to herself. "Come on, Nora. You can do this." She laid the flat of her hand at the base of her throat and picked up the staccato beat of her own pulse. Okay, the plan wouldn't get a chance to work if she passed out before she even got started.

  She stared through her windshield at the ranch house sitting dark and silent at the end of the drive. A single light in the kitchen told her exactly where Mike was in the big old house – and her heartbeat quickened even further. He was alone. Tonight was Emily's big sleepover party.

  Nora swallowed again and tried to steady her breathing. She steered the car down the drive, following the twin slashes from her headlights. The now familiar sound of gravel crunching beneath her tires seemed … welcoming, somehow. Parking the car, she grabbed her purse and climbed out, closing the door behind her.

  She shot a quick look at Rick and Donna's little house and was reassured to see several lights on, plus the flickering of a TV set. There would be no interruptions from that quarter. Now all she needed was to find the nerve to carry out the plan.

  The kitchen door opened and a slice of yellow light stabbed through the darkness, silhouetting Mike standing in the doorway. He looked huge. Tall, broad shouldered and exactly what she wanted.

  "Nora?" he said, and his voice, though low pitched, carried easily in the quiet she'd learned to appreciate out here, so far from Tesoro.

  "Surprise."

  He stepped out onto the porch and the light fell on him. With his features half in shadow, he looked mysterious, untouchable. A part of Nora wanted to just say "forget the whole thing" and go home, but she'd come too far to back out now. Besides, that tiny, cowardly voice in the back of her mind was easy to ignore, buried as it was beneath the roaring of her own blood.

  "I didn't expect to see you out here again," he said, and folded both arms across his chest.

  She came around the front of the car and stepped carefully on the gravel as she felt her high heels wobble unsteadily. The cool night air slipped up beneath the hem of the knee-length linen coat she wore belted around her waist and sent a shiver up the length of her spine. But she was pretty sure it wasn't only the air making her feel the tingle of goose bumps on her skin.

  "We should talk," she said softly, stepping up onto the porch to stand alongside him. The three-inch heels made her nearly tall enough to look him square in the eye. Nora noticed that despite his lack of welcome, there was a flash of … something in his eyes that gave her the courage to take the next step.

  Pulling in a deep breath, she moved past him into the well-worn kitchen. A white take-out bag sat in the middle of the table. The scent of Mexican spices filled the air, and Nora smiled to herself as she looked around the big room. It was homey and familiar and about to become the site of Nora's first attempt at seduction.

  "If you're here to talk about the other night…" he started.

  "No," she said, cutting him off as she dropped her purse onto the table and turned to face him. "I'm here to talk about tonight."

  Mike kept his distance. For all the good it did him. Just seeing her here again was enough to stir up every ounce of the desire he'd spent the last two days trying to ignore. Her short blond hair was softly curled and fell around her face in a wild, tangled halo. Her blue eyes looked dark, smoky and dangerous as hell. She was wearing those strappy high heels that had looked so good on her the night of the wedding. And even her pale blue linen coat looked sexy belted tight around her narrow waist.

  A coat, though? Spring evenings were cool, but not cold enough to warrant bundling up.

  Not the point, he told himself. The main thing here was to get Nora out of the house before—

  Her hands dropped to the knotted belt at her waist and he watched as she tugged at it. Apparently she planned on staying awhile.

  "What are you doing?"

  "Setting the stage for our little talk."

  "The stage?" he asked, and before he could figure out what she meant exactly, Nora shrugged out of the coat to let it fall to the floor.

  Mike's heart stopped.

  Under that simple linen coat she was wearing the most amazing combination of silk and lace he'd ever seen. Red-wine-colored silk caressed her body, skimming along her skin, hugging her curves before ending in a short skirt that just covered the tops of her thighs. Slender straps smoothed across her shoulders and across her breasts; the silk gave way to a fragile lace that managed to both hide and display her breasts. Her legs looked long and lean and tanned and his hands itched to touch her, to explore every inch of her.

  Reaching out blindly, he slammed the back door closed and wished he had curtains to close, too. "Oh, man."

  "You like it?" she asked, and Mike thought that had to be the dumbest question he'd ever heard.

  He sucked in air through gritted teeth and finally lifted his gaze to hers. "Like it? Yeah, I guess you could say that."

  "Good." Her mouth, that fabulous mouth, curved in a soft smile that let Mike know she was completely aware of the effect she was having on him.

  She did a slow, lazy turn in a tight circle, giving him enough time to appreciate her from every angle. And damned if she didn't look fantastic from every angle. His body went tight and hard. His blood pumped viciously and his heartbeat raced until he was sure it would jump right out of his chest.

  "I was hoping you'd like it. Sort of makes up for standing here freezing."

  "Nora—"

  She met his gaze and tilted her head to one side to look at him. "You're not going to try to tell me to leave, are you, Mike?"

  "Would it work?" he ground out tightly.

  "Not a chance." She moved a little closer to him, and damned if he could convince himself to back up. Her scent reached him first. That delicate blend of flowers that he would know in the dark and be able to find her by following it.

  Oh, man.

  "But you could warm me up a little."

  "Warm?" A strained, harsh laugh shot from his throat. "Honey, if you're not careful, you'
re gonna end up in the middle of a forest fire."

  Her eyes flashed and her lips parted in a half smile that fed the flames licking at his insides. Mike knew he was a dead man. There was just no way he could let her go. No way he could face the rest of this night without touching her. No way he could last another ten seconds without having her.

  "That's why I'm here, Mike," she said, and came close enough to skim her hands up his chest.

  His body flashed with an inner heat. Her hands went up, wrapped around his neck and her fingers threaded through his hair. A low grumble of need and want erupted inside him and Mike fought to keep it under control. To keep from losing himself.

  "I want you," she said. "I want you to make love to me, Mike."

  "Nora, this is crazy."

  She nodded, never taking her gaze off his. "I know. It has been right from the start."

  "I'm not the man you need."

  "You're exactly the man I want, though."

  He sucked in another gulp of air and released it in a rush of frustration. Grabbing her around the waist, he slid his fingers along her silk-clad body and felt her tremble at his touch.

  She went up on her toes and planted a quick kiss at the corner of his mouth, and he felt himself weaken even further. He'd been fighting this for weeks. Desire had become a constant companion, and frustration a way of life. Well, damn it, a man could take just so much.

  "Nora, are you sure?"

  She actually laughed, and he watched her eyes dazzle with pleasure. "Are you kidding? I dressed up like this, drove out to your house, stripped in your kitchen and you're asking if I'm sure? Jeez, Mike, I'm practically attacking you."

  His mouth quirked into a half smile. She had a point.

  Nora kissed him then, long and hard and deep, and when it was finally over, she pulled her head back to look at him. "Well, cowboy?"

  Shaking his head, Mike told himself that by tomorrow, he'd probably be able to think of hundreds of reasons why he shouldn't be doing this. But tonight he couldn't even think of one.

  Still holding her at the waist, he shifted his grip, scooped her up into his arms, and when she laughed in delight, he told himself not to think beyond tonight. To take this time with Nora as a gift and not question it.

  "Hang on, little lady," he said in his best cowboy drawl, "it's gonna be a long night."

  "Promises, promises." Nora laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck as he stalked across the kitchen and through the house to his bedroom.

  * * *

  Chapter 10

  «^»

  Those butterflies in Nora's stomach took flight all at once and swirled in circles.

  Mouth dry, nerves strained to the aching point, she clung to Mike as he moved quickly through the dark house. Outside his bedroom, he stopped, reached for the knob and threw the door open with so much force it smacked against the wall behind it. He stepped into the room and his arms tightened around her.

  Moonlight slanted into the room through the uncurtained window and spread across the wide bed, extending a pale invitation. The handmade quilt covering the mattress looked soft, welcoming. He carried her to the bed and stopped alongside it. Looking down at her, he again asked, "You're sure about this?"

  Nora slid the flat of her hand down his chest and tweaked open one of his shirt buttons. "I told you. I'm sure. Not a doubt in my mind. Uh-huh, this is what I want. Right now. You. Here. With me. On that bed. I mean it—"

  He grinned and Nora's heart did a wild, staggering dance.

  "I get it," he said, and, still holding her, bent down and reached with one hand to throw the quilt to the foot of the bed. "You're sure."

  "Oh, yeah."

  "Good," he muttered, and knelt on the bed so he could stretch her out across the mattress. "'Cause I'm not sure I could take it if you changed your mind now."

  "No problem there," she told him. Her butterflies had butterflies. Every inch of her skin felt alive. Sizzling. One look from him and she felt the fire inside her erupt into a volcano of pulsing need and hunger that she'd never expected to be so strong. And soon, very soon, she'd be leaving virginity behind. She'd take the step she'd been waiting so long for. And best of all, it would be Mike showing her the secret handshake.

  His hand swept beneath the hem of her impossibly expensive nightie and caressed her bare skin and…

  "My purse!"

  "What?" His fingers stilled on her abdomen.

  "I need my purse. I left it in the kitchen—"

  "Going somewhere?" he asked lazily, dragging his fingertips across her belly.

  She sucked in air, blew it out and shivered as she said, "No. It's just – I didn't want to buy them in Tesoro, because you know this town, and everyone would be talking and they'd all figure out what I was doing … I mean what we were doing, so I stopped at a store in Monterey this afternoon and picked up—"

  "You're babbling," he pointed out, and she heard the smile in his voice.

  "I'm lucky I can talk," she said, and sucked at air again as his fingertips danced along the edges of her panties.

  "Then don't," he said, dipping his head to take her mouth with a series of brief, tantalizing, nibbling kisses. "Don't talk. Just feel. Just—"

  "Oh, I like that," she whispered, and wondered if he heard her over the roar of her heartbeat.

  "Good," he said, "so do I."

  Another nibble. Another taste. Another too quick kiss that left her hungry, frantic, for more.

  His mouth dipped to the line of her jaw and down her throat. She felt his lips, his teeth, his tongue, drawing a line of fire across her skin. Her brain blurred. She'd needed to tell him something. Started to tell him about the store … oh, my … and that she had some … wow… Air. She needed air. Silently, Nora reminded herself to breathe, but there was just so much more going on in her brain right now, she was afraid that order was going to come in low on her list of priorities.

  "So soft," he murmured, and his breath dusted warmth against her skin.

  "Mike…" Think, she told herself. "In my purse…"

  He rose up, looked down at her and smiled. "What could possibly be so important about your purse?"

  Her eyes were rolling. That was the only explanation for the fact that his face looked blurry. She inhaled sharply, deeply, and focused. When she found her voice again, she managed to say, "Condoms. There're condoms in my purse."

  That slow smile of his deepened as he shook his head. "You're amazing, you know that?"

  A flutter of something delicious wafted through her. "Because I can shop?"

  "Yeah," he murmured, letting his gaze slide over her and following that trail with his fingertips. He barely touched her, caressing her so gently it was as if a feather was dancing across her skin. Tendrils of expectation unwound throughout her body. Her blood went to a slow simmer and a deep, throbbing ache settled low in her body, making Nora want to twitch and writhe beneath him.

  Her eager responses fed Mike's hunger until he could barely see her through the haze of want and need that nearly blinded him. His heart crashed against his rib cage and breathing was damn near impossible. He felt tight and hard and ready to roll. But he had to control his own desires. Had to slow things down. Had to make sure he took his time.

  It'd been years since he'd been with a virgin. And hell, he'd been a virgin himself then. But he'd learned plenty over the years and he was determined to see to it that Nora's first time was a hell of a lot more memorable than his had been.

  The condoms could wait, though he was grateful she'd thought of them. Especially since he didn't have his own stash. He hadn't exactly been a social animal the last couple of years.

  But none of that mattered now. The only thing on his mind was Nora. How best to show her everything. How to take her high enough that she wouldn't mind the fall.

  Skimming his hands beneath the hem of that incredible nightie, Mike relished the feel of her soft, smooth skin beneath his palms. Her curves were generous, and he followed every line until h
e knew her body by touch and she was squirming beneath him.

  "I want to touch you, too," she said, and Mike had to smile.

  He wanted her hands on him as much as she did, so he stood up and quickly stripped, tearing his clothes and boots off and tossing them into a corner of the room. He watched her watching him and saw her eyes widen.

  When he lay down beside her again, she reached up and ran her hands across his chest, skimming her fingers through the short, dark hair and dragging her nails against his skin until he was pretty sure she'd branded him. He gritted his teeth, pulled in air like a drowning man and fought for control. It was a hard-won battle.

  Finally, when he couldn't take another second of her gentle torture, he took her hands in one of his and pinned them behind her head on the mattress. She arched her back and her breasts pushed against their lace prison. Her nipples peaked and Mike's mouth watered.

  Using his free hand, he pushed the hem of her nightie high until her breasts lay bare in the moonlight. Nora twisted slightly, moving into him, and her breath came in short, hard gasps. She trembled, and he felt the shudder of her movement move through him as well, touching the dark and lonely heart of him.

  He dipped his head.

  She held her breath.

  He took first one nipple, then the next into his mouth and Nora groaned aloud, arching into him, pushing herself at him as if afraid he would stop. But there was no chance of that.

  "Perfect," he murmured, and ran the tip of his tongue across the dark pink, rigid tip of her breast.

  "Mike … oh my … Mike…"

  He smiled against her flesh. So Nora, to keep talking. He tasted her again, pulling her nipple deep into his mouth, suckling her, teasing her with the edges of his teeth, driving her into a frenzy of need that had her bucking beneath him in a futile attempt to ease the ache within.

  "So good," she said brokenly. "It feels so … good. So … right."

  His own body tightened as she moved into him again and again, seeking something she'd never known before. He felt her frustration and shared it. He wanted to be inside her, pushing himself home, deep into her warmth. He wanted to claim her for his own.